Rolling Device and Rolling Process

ABSTRACT

In a rolling device at least one roller associated with a multi-zone cooling has at least one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for a coolant. At least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics is arranged and adapted such that the spray bar is adjustable therewith in and against the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled, relative to the at least one roller. The temperature of the roller is affected locally corresponding to each nozzle on at least one roller by a multi-zone cooling with at least one spray bar. The spray bar is adjustable by means of at least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics in and against the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled, relative to the at least one roller.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 202014 008 017.8, filed Oct. 9, 2014, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rolling device according to thepreamble of claim 1 as well as a rolling method according to thepreamble of claim 9.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a further development of a rolling device and a rollingmethod according to German patent application DE 10 2011 009 195 A1.

Already for the DE 10 2011 009 195 A1 it was emanated from prior artknown from practice in the cold rolling technology to apply besidesmechanical actuators e.g. for roll bending, roll shifting, roll swingingamong others for influencing the strip flatness also the so-calledthermal flatness control. An embodiment of such a conventionalarrangement of a rolling device 1 is schematically illustrated in FIGS.2a and 2b . In this technique, the cooling and lubricating mediumrequired for the forming process is applied with nozzles 6 mounted inparallel to the roll body with rollers 4. Each nozzle 6 can be switchedon and off individually by appropriate valves. Thereby it is possible tolocally influence the temperature of the roller 4 and to locally changeits diameter (the principle of multi-zone cooling). This in turn affectsthe geometry of the roll gap and thus the flatness of the strip. Thenozzles 6 arranged in parallel to the roller 4 are installed inso-called spray bars 2 (four pieces usually) which are stationarymounted to the rollers 4 in the rolling stand 3.

In design, the arrangement of the spray bar with the nozzles is acompromise that must take into account the different roller diameters inorder to achieve a preferably maximum wetting sector of the roller foreach situation. The aim thereof is to choose the wetting sector as largeas possible in order to be able to locally take the greatest possibleinfluence on the temperature and thus the diameter. For the economicoperation of the cold rolling arrangements a roller grind off area aslarge as possible is intended for the reduction of means of productioncosts. This means within the scope of this compromise to be found, alimitation at certain diameter ranges in the optimum wetting andeffectiveness of the coolant application. The desired effect of localheat dissipation cannot be good or optimized the same in all diameterranges. Also, the change of the distance from the nozzle exit to theroller surface means that there are changes in the geometry of thefan-like inclined nozzle spray pictures, what also interferes with thedifferentiation of the nozzles (same as zones) amongst each other.

The disadvantages of this prior art have already been solved by arolling device and a rolling method according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1,and the present invention has and the object of a further improvement ofthis technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved with a rolling device according to claim 1 aswell as a rolling method according to claim 9.

By means of the invention there is provided accordingly a rolling devicewith at least one roller associated with a multi-zone cooling which atleast comprises one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for thecoolant for locally influencing the temperature of the roller inaccordance with each nozzle, wherein there is provided at least oneshort-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics whichis arranged and adapted such that the spray bar is adjustable therewithin and against the feed direction of a material strip to the at leastone roller, to be rolled, with respect to the at least one roller.

Thus, according to the invention short-stroke cylinders or mechanicalmovement or movement mechanics, in particular short-stroke hydrauliccylinders or short-stroke block cylinders are added to the genericrolling device, which can provide for a movement of the spray bar in oragainst the direction of transport of a material strip to be rolled.This movement, which is in particular aligned in the horizontaldirection, allows for a higher accuracy of the spray distance adjustmentover the entire working range.

The improvement of the ultra-high-resolution spraying according to theinvention especially according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1 by the use ofshort-stroke cylinders or mechanical movement or movement mechanics,which can provide an additional preferably horizontal movement of thespray bar, has the following advantages over the prior art according toDE 10 2011 009 195 A1:

higher accuracy of the spray distance adjustment over the working range;

the working range can be extended in that it is permitted that differentspray pressures are used at the spray bar, and that the spray overlap iscontrolled in addition; thereby it should be noted: If the pressureincreases or decreases at the spray bar, the spray pattern or nozzlespray picture of a single nozzle changes, and this change in spraypattern or nozzle spray picture also changes the overlap of the spraypattern or nozzle spray pictures from adjacent nozzles, what now can becontrolled by the inventive improvement, resulting in a wider workingrange of the entire system at or for the rolling device;

the spray pressure and the spray distance adjustment can be controlledby an algorithm depending to what extent a process cooling is required;and

the improvement according to the invention has further advantages whenvery small coolant flows are used, as it allows that the pressure isreduced whilst a complete coverage of the working range is maintained.

In the rolling device according to the invention it is preferred whenthe feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller is atleast substantially horizontal.

Another preferred embodiment is that at least one pair of short-strokecylinders or mechanical movements or movement mechanics is provided,wherein one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement of the pair isarranged below the material strip feed and one short-stroke cylinder ormechanical movement of the pair is arranged above the material stripfeed.

Further, with preference a controller can be provided, adapted tocontrol, on the one hand, the distance of the spray bar from the atleast one roller by controlling any existing short-stroke cylinder ormechanical movement or movement mechanics and, on the other hand, thepressure of the coolant supplied to the nozzles in a matched manner suchthat desired nozzle spray pictures at the at least one roller areadjusted.

Further, preferably there can additionally be provided that the at leastone spray bar is inclinable and controllable such so as to keep thedistance of the spray bar or nozzles from the roller at leastsubstantially constant even with different roller diameters.

With different working roller diameters, by inclining such as e.g.pivoting the spray bar the distance to the roller can be kept at leastapproximately constant.

Preferably, the at least one spray bar is guided rotationally or ispivoted and/or guided linearly for inclination.

Further preferred, a controller can be provided which is adapted toincline the at least one spray bar relative to the associated roller insuch a way that a predetermined distance of the spray bar or the nozzlesto the concerned roller is adjusted. Here, even more preferably a pathmeasurement system may be provided to continuously, at regular orirregular time intervals or on request determine the actual distance ofa spray bar from a roller directly or indirectly, and to pass on thisactual distance continuously, at regular or irregular time intervals oron request to the controller, which is adapted to control theinclination of the at least one spray bar relative to the associatedroller so that the predetermined distance of the spray bar or nozzlesfrom the concerned roller is adjusted.

In another preferred embodiment, it is provided that for inclining theat least one spray bar there is provided at least one especiallyhydraulic actuating cylinder.

With preference, but not restrictive, the rolling device may concern aflat rolling device, or such with a 4-high or 6-high rolling standconfiguration.

It is also preferred if the nozzles arranged on the at least one spraybar are adapted for generation of fan-like nozzle spray pictures ofcoolant.

In the rolling method according to the invention the temperature of theroller is affected locally corresponding to each nozzle on at least oneroller by means of a multi-zone cooling with at least one spray barhaving a plurality of nozzles for the coolant, wherein the spray bar isadjustable or is adjusted by means of at least one short-stroke cylinderor mechanical movement or movement mechanics in and against the feeddirection of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled,with respect to the at least one roller.

With preference it can also be provided that the at least one spray baris controlled and inclined such that the distance of the spray bar orthe nozzles from the roller is kept at least substantially constant evenwith different roller diameters so that also at different rollerdiameters equally good or optimized application of the coolant isensured. This may preferably be further developed in that, inparticular, thereby the at least one spray bar may be guidedrotationally or pivoted or guided linearly by at least one especiallyhydraulic actuating cylinder for inclination.

Alternatively or additionally, it is preferred if the actual distance ofa spray bar from a roller is determined directly or indirectly by meansof a path measurement system and passed on to a controller which causesan inclination of the at least one spray bar, such that a predetermineddistance of the spray bar or nozzles from the concerned roller isadjusted.

Yet another preferred embodiment is that there is controlled on the onehand, the distance of the spray bar from the at least one roller bycontrolling any existing short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement ormovement mechanics and on the other hand, the pressure of the coolantsupplied to the nozzles in a matched manner such that desired nozzlespray pictures are adjusted on the at least one roller.

Further preferred and/or advantageous embodiments of the invention andits various aspects will be apparent from the combination of individualclaims as well as the entire present application documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail only by way ofexample by means of an embodiment with reference to the drawings, inwhich

FIG. 1a shows in a schematic principle sketch an embodiment of a rollingdevice with the maximum distance of the rollers,

FIG. 1b shows in a schematic principle sketch an embodiment of a rollingdevice with the minimum distance of the rollers, and

FIGS. 2a, b show in a schematic principle sketch an embodiment of arolling device according to the prior art, according to a front view andin a plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the embodiment and application example described belowand shown in the drawings, the invention will now be explained in moredetail by way of example only, i.e. it is not limited to this embodimentand application example or to combinations of features within thisembodiment and application example. Method and device features areobtained in analogy also from device and method descriptions,respectively.

Individual features which are specified and/or illustrated in connectionwith a specific embodiment are not limited to this embodiment or thecombination with the other features of this embodiment, but can becombined within the scope of the technical possibility with any othervariants, even when they are not outlined separately in the presentdocument.

Identical reference numerals in the individual figures and illustrationsof the drawings denote identical or similar or identically or similarlyeffecting components. By means of the illustrations in the drawings alsothose features become apparent that are not provided with referencenumerals, regardless of whether such features are described below ornot. On the other hand, features mentioned in this specification, butnot visible or shown in the drawings, are readily understandable for aman skilled in the art.

In the FIGS. 1a and 1b an embodiment of a rolling device 1 is shown inschematic principle sketches.

The present invention is based over the known prior art according to theexample in FIGS. 2a and 2b , which were already described above in theintroduction and therefore need not be treated separately, to circumventthe problem initially described in that the spray bars 2 are mounted inthe rolling stand 3 or frame so that they are inclinable and can bepositioned according to the current diameters of the rollers 4. Thus, itis achieved in a multi-zone cooling with inclinable spray bars that evenwith different roller diameters an equally good or optimized applicationof the coolant is ensured. An embodiment of the invention isschematically shown in FIGS. 1a and 1 b.

One possibility is to mount the spray bars 2 pivoted to the stand 3 ande.g. to position the spray bars 2 by a cylinder 5 and a path measurementsystem (in the FIGS. 1a and 1b a variant with four spray bars 2 isshown, but the invention is not limited to those precise number andarrangement). The spray bars 4 are carrying a plurality of nozzles 6 togenerate fan-like nozzle spray pictures 7 of coolant, which preferablysimultaneously can also be a lubricant.

In addition to these solutions shown in Figs. la and lb, however, anyother principles can also implement that are suitable for positioningand the man skilled in the art with the knowledge of the presentinvention can now select readily. Also, the movement does notnecessarily take place in rotation about a pivot point. Also linearlyguided spray bars can be used within the meaning of this invention. Theapplication is for example conceivable for all flat rolling devices.Further, it is preferred but not limited to use 4-high or 6-high rollingdevice configurations with the rolling device 1.

The FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate other features and designs within therespective embodiment what the expert in the field of rolling devicescan take without problems without further explanations, particularlywith regard to the disclosure of the presently concerned cooling issue,from the graphic/pictorial representation alone, without descriptiveexplanations would be required therefore.

In particular, the rolling device 1 according to FIGS. 1a and 1b , hasat least one roller 4, which is associated with a multi-zone cooling,which comprises at least one spray bar 2 having a plurality of nozzles 6for coolant for influencing the temperature of the roller 4 locallycorresponding to each nozzle 6, wherein at least one short-strokecylinder 8 or mechanical movement or movement mechanics is providedwhich is arranged and adapted such that the spray bar 2 is adjustableboth in and opposite to the feed direction of a material strip to the atleast one roller 4, to be rolled, with respect to the at least oneroller 4.

Thus, in the embodiments shown short-stroke cylinders 8 or mechanicalmovements or movement mechanics, as in particular short-stroke hydrauliccylinders or short-stroke block cylinders, are added to the genericrolling device 1, which can provide for movement of the spray bar 2 inor against the direction of transport of a material strip to be rolled,in accordance with the arrow in the FIGS. 1a and 1b . This movement,which in particular is aligned in the horizontal direction, allows ahigher accuracy of spray distance adjustment over the entire workingrange.

The improvement of the ultra high-resolution spraying in particularaccording to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1 by the use of short-stroke cylinders8 or mechanical movements or movement mechanics, which may provideadditional preferably horizontal movement of the spray bar 2, has thefollowing advantages over the art according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1:

higher accuracy of the spray distance adjustment over the working range;

the working range can be extended in that it is permitted that differentspray pressures are used at the spray bar 2, and that the spray overlapis additionally controlled; thereby it should be noted: If the pressureincreases or decreases at the spray bar 2, the spray pattern or nozzlespray picture 7 of a single nozzle 6 changes, and this change in spraypattern or nozzle spray picture 7 also changes the overlap of the spraypattern or nozzle spray pictures 7 from adjacent nozzles 6, what now canbe controlled by the inventive improvement, resulting in a wider workingrange of the entire system at or for the rolling device 1;

the spray pressure and the spray distance adjustment can be controlledby an algorithm depending to what extent a process cooling is required;and

the improvement according to the invention has further advantages whenvery small coolant flows are used, as it allows that the pressure isreduced whilst a complete coverage of the working range is maintained.

In the rolling device 1 according to the embodiments in FIGS. 1a and 1bis preferred if the feeding of a material strip to the at least oneroller 4 is at least substantially horizontally. In the embodiments ofFigs. la and lb, the short-stroke cylinders 8 or mechanical movements ormovement mechanics are provided in pairs with one short-stroke cylinder8 or mechanical movement or movement mechanics of each pair beingarranged below the material strip feed and one short-stroke cylinder 8or mechanical movement or movement mechanics of each pair being arrangedabove the material strip feed. Further, in the embodiments illustratedin the Figs. la and lb a controller is provided, which is adapted tocontrol on the one hand the distance of the spray bar 2 from said atleast one roller 4 by controlling any existing short-stroke cylinder 8or mechanical movement or movement mechanics and on the other hand, thepressure of the coolant supplied to the nozzles 6 in a matched manner sothat desired nozzle spray pictures 7 are adjusted at the at least oneroller 4.

The present invention is of particular advantage to/in the rolling ofaluminum, but without being limited to this application. It is alsoadvantageous that by the present invention the maintenance work on therolling devices over conventional designs in the prior art is reduced,which are exemplarily and schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b ,which have been referred to already above and which is readilyunderstandable for the expert on the field of rolling devices especiallywith regard to the disclosure of the presently concerned cooling issue.

By the invention it can be realized in a rolling device in anadvantageous manner that with in particular different work rolldiameters for example by pivoting or in general inclining/pitching ofthe spray bar, the distance of the corresponding nozzle to the roller iskept at least substantially constant.

Dimensions and other data contained in the Figs. la and lb representmerely exemplary size specifications or data for execution of theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b ; the invention is not limited tothis size specifications and other formative data and also not onrelations resulting therefrom.

The invention as based on the embodiment is shown in the description andin the drawings exemplarily only and is not limited thereto but includesall variations, modifications, substitutions and combinations which aman skilled in the art can derive from the present document,particularly in the scope of the claims and the general representationsin the introduction of this description as well as the description anddrawings of the embodiment and can combine with his expert knowledge aswell as the prior art. In particular, all the individual features andembodiment possibilities of the invention can be combined.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rolling device with at least one rollerassociated with a multi-zone cooling, the rolling device comprising: atleast one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for a coolant, forlocally influencing the temperature of the roller in accordance witheach nozzle; at least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movementor movement arranged and adapted such that the spray bar is adjustabletherewith in and against a feed direction of a material strip to the atleast one roller to be rolled with respect to the at least one roller.2. The rolling device according to claim 1, wherein the feed directionof the material strip to the at least one roller is at leastsubstantially horizontal.
 3. The rolling device according to claim 1,further comprising at least one pair of short stroke cylinders ormechanical movements or movement mechanics, wherein one short-strokecylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics of the pair isarranged below the material strip feed and one short-stroke cylinder ormechanical movement or movement mechanics of the pair is arranged abovethe material strip feed.
 4. The rolling device according to claim 1,further comprising a controller adapted to control a distance of thespray bar from the at least one roller by controlling any existing shortstroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics and apressure of the coolant supplied to the plurality of nozzles in amatched manner, such that desired nozzle spray pictures at the at leastone roller are adjusted.
 5. The rolling device according to claim 1,wherein the at least one spray bar is inclinable and controllable tokeep the distance of the spray bar or the plurality of nozzles from theroller at least substantially constant even with different rollerdiameters, and wherein the at least one spray bar is guided rotationallyor is pivoted for inclination and/or that the at least one spray bar isguided linearly for inclination.
 6. The rolling device according toclaim 1, further providing a controller adapted to incline the at leastone spray bar relative to an associated roller in such a way that aredetermined distance of the spray bar or the nozzles from theassociated roller is achieved.
 7. The rolling device according to claim6, further comprising a path measurement system for continuouslydetermining an actual distance of the spray bar from from a rollerdirectly or indirectly at regular or irregular time intervals or onrequest, and for passing on the actual distance continuously at regularor irregular time intervals or on request to the controller, thecontroller being adapted to control the inclination of the at least onespray bar relative to the associated roller so that the predetermineddistance of the spray bar or the plurality of nozzles from theassociated roller is adjusted.
 8. The rolling device according of claim1, further comprising at least one especially hydraulic actuatingcylinder for inclining the at least one spray bar, wherein the rollingdevice is a flat rolling device or has a 4-high or 6-high rolling standconfiguration, and/or wherein the plurality of nozzles arranged on theat least one spray bar are adapted to generate fan-like nozzle spraypictures of the coolant.
 9. A rolling method for affecting locally atemperature of a roller corresponding to each nozzle on at least oneroller by means of a multi-zone cooling with at least one spray barhaving a plurality of nozzles for the coolant, the method comprisingadjusting the spray bar by means of at least one short-stroke cylinderor mechanical movement or movement mechanics in and against a feeddirection of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled,with respect to the at least one roller.
 10. The rolling methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising: controlling and inclining theat least one spray bar such that the distance of the spray bar or theplurality of nozzles from the roller is kept at least substantiallyconstant even with different roller diameters, so that also at differentroller diameters equally good or optimized application of the coolant isensured; guiding rotationally, pivoting or guiding linearly the at leastone spray bar by at least one hydraulic actuating cylinder forinclination; determining an actual distance of the at east one spray barfrom a roller directly or indirectly by means of a path measurementsystem and passing on the actual distance to a controller which causesan inclination of the at least one spray bar; adjusting a predetermineddistance of the spray bar or the plurality of nozzles from the concernedroller; and controlling a distance of the spray bar from the at leastone roller by controlling a short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movementor movement mechanics, and adjusting a pressure of the coolant suppliedto the plurality of nozzles in a matched manner such that desired nozzlespray pictures are adjusted on the at least one roller.